Cell Phone Information

[FuzzNuttz]

Can anyone guide me to a web site that describes the differences between cell phones? I'm particularly interested in how our phones operated as opposed to other countries. For instance, can I buy a phone in Europe or Asia an expect it to work in the US? Thanks for the help!!

 

[Buddha Bart]

Sorry, I don't have any websites, but I do have 1 month's experience as a radio shack whore.

Stop lauging at me.

Anyway, as far as foreign phones working here, no/yes.
Most american phones operate on a protocol called CDMA, and a few (i think att) use TDMA.
Most foreign use GSM.

The only way for a phone to work both places is for it to be built to rx/tx in both formats. They are very expensive phones.

bart

 

[andri]

US lags behind Europe when it comes to cellular communications. Here I have on my desk a Nokia 6110 GSM phone, works here in Estonia, and with the same phone and same SIM I can roam, for example, in UK or Spain and my phone no is still the same
One unified standard is the strength: GSM 900 and the newer GSM 1800. Both are digital.

In US, there is about *three* *incompatible* *analogue* standards, and even GSM is f*ked up - GSM 800 and GSM 1900, making them incompatible with the rest of the GSM world. Not a pretty sight.

 

[Sunner]

Tripple band phones work just fine in both the US, Europe, and other parts of the world as well.
I had a Motorola Timeport, worked fine in the US as well as in Europe.
Ericsson's T28s-World should work just fine as well.

 

[medic]

I have a Nokia 5190 Digital up here in Western Canada that is on the 1900MHz.PCS network and complies with the GSM standard (300 million users) I still had to get an analog module though for out in the bush, digital isn't everywhere yet!

The website for my phone says I can use it in 65 countries including Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania

 

[Argo]

sunner, are you sure that timeport works in the Europe? That would be so great. I have to go on a 2 week business trip, and my phone continues working that would be awesome. Do I need to get a new number upon arrival, or I can just roam?

 

[xtreme2k]

nearly the whole word uses GSM900 while the states use GSM1900

thatz what created the most troubles

 

[sleepwalker]

The US and the rest of the world differ mostly in bands used. In the US we only use at this point 800 and 1900mhz. First came 800 analog service. Today you will find CDMA digital TDMA digital and GSM digital operating in the us. The most common type of digital in the US appears to be CDMA digital.

 

[beat mania]

What does Japan use? Is there a phone that can be used in US and JPN?

 

[xtreme2k]

Japan uses sth called PHS (Personal Handyphone System)

it is incompatible with any other networks

 

[Sunner]

argo, yep, Im a Swede, and I used a Timeport for like 6 months, then I traded it with my boss for a T28s, and since, my boss has been using it alot in several European countries, as well as the US, no problems.

 

[3615buck]

Yes the timeport will work in Europe because it supports 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz.

 

[FuzzNuttz]

Thanks for all the reply's. Now... where can I find information on everything that was said above? I'm mostly interested in buying a phone that will work in both Korea and the US. I'll be living in Seoul for a year (starting in November) and I'd like to pickup a decent digital cell phone for use in the states after my year in Korea (I hear price and selection are great). So... are there any cell phone BBS's, forums etc? Where did you guys pick up you information? Thanks again!

 

[Horsepower]

Try: Portable Life

 

[medic]

I believe SK Telecom controls over 50% of the market in Seoul and maybe for all of S.Korea. They use CDMA technology with their Seed 011 service and operate on 800MHz. The smaller companies use PCS

SK Telecom

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